Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 166 Unveiling the Post
Pei Qu was captured, and nearly 10,000 of the 20,000 Zhenhai soldiers died, with more than 2,000 captured. Only Cheng Qianxi, Zhao Qianye, and others managed to escape with less than 8,000 remaining soldiers.

This great battle, which took place on the southeastern plain of Taihu Lake, is nearing its end. Since southeast corresponds to the Xun position in the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), this battle can be called the Battle of Lake Xun.

Cui Qiu, the military governor of Zhejiang East, still had his troops intact. Although they had been defeated by Meng Kai and Duan Hongyan, the losses were not fatal.

In an effort to crush the Zhenhai Army, the Cao Army itself suffered over two thousand casualties, with several times that number wounded, and the soldiers were generally exhausted. At first glance, it seemed that although the Zhejiang East Army was weaker, it could still retreat unscathed.

But when Cui Qiu wanted to order the army to retreat back to Hangzhou, he discovered that the pursuers were not only the remaining part of the bandit army.

Suddenly, figures appeared in the surrounding rice paddies, each carrying a hoe, pitchfork, and manure rake, their eyes filled with fiery rage.

"So it was you corrupt officials who, during the locust plague and drought, concealed the disaster, withheld grain from the granaries, and even intensified the collection of exorbitant taxes!"

A farmer carrying a hoe gritted his teeth and said.

Although Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces have not been affected by locusts in recent years, they have still experienced poor harvests due to drought.

This farmer, unable to pay his taxes, was hung from his doorframe and beaten by the tax collectors. His house was then demolished, and everything of value was stolen. His son was sold into slavery, his daughter into a brothel, and his wife was forced to work for officials to pay off the unpaid taxes. All the money they earned barely covered the tax collectors' travel and food expenses! The farmer still had to find other ways to collect the actual taxes, and in addition, he had to perform corvée labor despite his frail and weak body.

This situation was common in the Tang Dynasty, even before the outbreak of large-scale locust and drought disasters. Even before the An Lushan Rebellion, during the Tianbao era, Emperor Xuanzong had already become extremely decadent and extravagant, to the point that "behind the vermilion gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the roads, frozen corpses lie."

Compared to other unified dynasties, the Tang Dynasty suffered the most due to its early military campaigns and the subsequent fragmentation by regional warlords. Only during the early to mid-Zhenguan period, the Kaiyuan era, and a few rare years such as the Huichang Restoration under Emperor Wuzong were the people able to find some respite.

The people of the Tang Dynasty were among the most resilient to suffering. They were generally born without ever having seen the light, which made them even more capable of enduring darkness.

Until the locust plague and drought swept through the Kanto region, they realized that if they did not resist, they would have no way to survive.

To be fair, while the locust plagues and droughts in Northeast China in recent years have been severe, they have not reached the point of national annihilation. The Hebei region, controlled by the three towns of Hebei, was completely untouched by locusts, and the drought was also relatively mild.

The reason why the people were living in such dire straits, with many resorting to eating acorns, elm seeds, locust leaves, locusts, and clay to survive, and even resorting to cannibalism, was entirely due to the inaction of the government.

According to the theory of the interaction between Heaven and Man, the outbreak of a great famine proves that the central government is immoral. The ruling eunuch Tian Lingzi is mediocre and domineering, and the reigning emperor Li Xuan is even more fond of pleasure and extravagance. He is a typical immoral person.

According to the old system of the Tang Dynasty, after a major famine, the emperor should send people to pray for rain, reduce the amount of food served in the palace, review the cases of criminals, redress grievances, and order ministers to submit memorials of advice. He should also send envoys to the provinces to investigate the extent of the disaster and the suffering of the people, and oversee the distribution of grain for disaster relief.

But in the eyes of Tian Lingzi, Li Xuan, and their numerous subordinates, these matters were far too troublesome. Excessive dissemination of news of the disaster would also give disgruntled local military governors grounds to attack the central government.

The higher-ups like to cover things up, but what about those below?

In the Tang Dynasty, officials were evaluated based on factors such as population growth, increase in households, and full payment of taxes and grain. In order to pass the evaluation, officials would temporarily conceal the disaster situation and continue to collect taxes to ensure that their performance would not be affected. They would then report the disaster situation after the evaluation was over.

Local officials have just as much incentive to cover things up.

Thus, in the mouths of the emperor and his officials, there were no locust plagues or droughts in Guandong, only favorable weather and peace and prosperity! As for where Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao, this small group of rebels, came from, they were nothing more than a bunch of troublemakers who only knew how to kill local officials and poison the prefectures and counties. Their crimes were heinous and they were condemned by everyone. They could be quickly suppressed!

As the farmer made his accusation, a dense formation of men wielding farm tools surrounded the Zhejiang East Army, blocking Cui Qiu and his men's escape route.

Several days ago, Huang Chao began sending people to distribute "posters" in this area.

Compared to proclamations posted in fixed locations, posters printed using woodblock printing could be mass-produced and distributed to the public to express the political views of the rebels and denounce the crimes of the government.

As for the common people being illiterate? Huang Chao even sent a group of scholars to infiltrate and provide concise explanations to the people who were discussing the "poster" after finding it. The famine in Liangzhe (present-day Zhejiang and Jiangsu) was actually not severe, but in recent years, due to the suppression of various peasant uprisings in Jiangdong, the lives of the people in Liangzhe had generally been much harder than in previous years. Under these circumstances, high-ranking officials like Pei Qu and Cui Qiu still indulged in extravagant and wasteful lifestyles, displaying a style reminiscent of Shi Chong and Wang Kai of the Western Jin Dynasty.

These incidents, one by one, when heard by the people, how could they not be filled with indignation!
"Charge! Kill all these rioters!" Cui Qiu shouted, ordering his generals to send troops to attack and kill the group of ragged farmers.

News of Pei Qu's capture and the collapse of the Zhenhai Army had already reached the Zhejiang East Army, but Cui Qiu still hoped to withdraw his troops intact.

But when the Zhejiang East Army was completely surrounded by these farmers, many of the soldiers of the Zhejiang East Army eventually felt a pang of sympathy.

They were just untrained farmers, armed only with worn-out farm tools, completely unlike the bandits with their bright swords and banners.

The parents and brothers of the soldiers of the Eastern Zhejiang Army were also often dressed in rags at home.

Their morale has plummeted due to the defeat of their allies, and their killing intent has waned, making them unwilling to harm the farmers.

Only a few chose to take up arms and charge, cutting down the farmers and carving a bloody path through them.

Many others wept softly, then used their weapons to clear a path and force away the farmers blocking their way. They then fled in groups of about fifty, abandoning their armor and weapons.

Under the protection of two hundred Persian knights, Pi Rixiu rode towards Cui Qiu's banner, preparing to persuade him to surrender.

“Brother Cui, we are old friends. Now that you have surrendered, the righteous army will change the world in the future, and you will surely not lose your position as prime minister,” Pi Rixiu advised.

Cui Qiu hesitated.

He knew that with the war at this point, even if he escaped back, he would most likely be demoted, and it would be difficult for him to keep his position as the Zhejiang East Observer.

However, he really didn't believe that bandits could overthrow the Tang Dynasty, and he felt that if he joined the bandits, he would most likely perish along with them.

Meanwhile, the Zhejiang East Army, which had been able to maintain its formation, began to crumble and collapse under the pressure of the angry shouts of the people and the forces of Meng Kai and Duan Hongyan.

Zhu Wen and Tian Jun rode side by side, leading a cavalry corps that galloped over, their hooves creating a constant whirlwind of dust and grass.

Tian Jun's beautiful profile shone brightly in the sunlight, making Zhu Wen glance at her a few more times.

Tian Jun was overjoyed when she found out, and said in a low voice, "After we officially announce our relationship, I want you to kiss my cheek in public."

"Okay." Zhu Wen nodded.

Tian Jun cheered with delight, wielding her spear in both hands as she charged into the enemy ranks. With a sweeping motion, all of Cui Qiu's personal guards were routed.

Zhu Wen seized an opening, spurred his horse and charged in, directly attacking Cui Qiu, the military governor. He snatched the governor, who was riding in a luxurious carriage, away like an eagle snatching a chick. Cui Qiu's face was still filled with fear.

"Mr. Cui, there is no need to worry. You are an old friend of Mr. Pi Rixiu, and your life is safe."

Zhu Wen comforted Cui Qiu and ordered his cavalry to tie Cui Qiu up with ropes as well.

It's no exaggeration to say that two military governors were captured in a single day.

(End of this chapter)